eSign Basics

Need to eSign a document? Use HelloSign for free.

Start Signing Today.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I eSign a document?

When you have a document to sign, it can be uploaded to an eSignature service, such as HelloSign, to generate a signature. Once the document is eSigned, you can email the document to your intended recipient. eSignatures are a legally accepted and protected form of signature. In the US, they’re covered by the eSign Act.

What is the ESIGN Act?

The ESIGN Act, otherwise known as Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, was signed in 2000 to give eSignatures the same status as written signatures.

What are the benefits of eSigning?

Being able to eSign a document is great for improving workflows. When you eSign a document, you eliminate the need to print the document, sign it, then scan it. Being able to eSign documents streamlines the process for completing paperwork and reduces productivity waste.

Here are some of the other ways eSignatures are beneficial:

Faster turnaround time for completed documents and contracts

Better security and document tracking

Low cost

Eliminate paper waste

What are the limitations of eSigning?

There are certain types of documentation that are not covered by the ESIGN Act (for example, adoption and divorce papers). For a list of documents that need to be signed in-person, you can ready about it in our blog post on eSignature legality.

How do I use HelloSign to eSign?

Signing a document using HelloSign only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps to eSigning your first document: